THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


IN  MEMORY  OF 

PAUL  TURNER,  U.S.M.C.R. 

KILLED  IN  ACTION,  SAIPAN 

JUNE,  1944 


STATE   STREET. 


BY   THE   AUTHOR   OF 

'HARD  KNOCKS,  OR  WHO  is  FIRST?"   "AGNES  FARRIDAY, ** 

"THE  LEARNED  WORLD,"  "THE  CANNONADE," 

ETC.,   ETC   • 


PUBLISHED    BY 

A.    W.     I,  C)  V  I.  RING, 

No.  - 


STATE  STREET. 


BY  THE  AUTHOR  OF 

"HARD  KNOCKS,  OR  WHO  is  FIRST?"  "AGNES  FARRIDAY,'" 

"THE  LEARNED  WORLD,"  "THE  CANNONADE," 

ETC.,  ETC 


PUBLISHED   BY 

A.    W.     LOVERINO, 

No.  204  WASHINGTON  STREET. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  18T4, 

BY  WM.  AnoLpiius  CLAKK, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


Stereotyped  at  the  Boston  Stereotype  Foundry, 
1S»  Spring  Lane. 


NEGLECTED   CHILDREN  OF  GENIUS 

(OF   WHOM   THERE   ARE  TOO   MANY   BY    FAR), 

WHO,   DEDICATED    TO   TRUTH  AND  INDEPENDENT    LIVING, 

SCORN   THE    PALTRY   CONVENTIONALISMS    OF    LIFE, 

AND  ARE    MARTYRS    TO  THEIR   INDIVIDUALITY, 

WHICH  NEITHER  THE  POWER,  INSOLENCE, 

AND    HEARTLESSNESS    OF   WEALTH 

CAN   BEND   NOR   CONQUER, 


tins 


691769 


STATE  STREET. 


WHEN  Justice,  heavenly  Maid!  was  young, 
While  yet  in  early  Greece  she  sung, 
The  Passions  oft,  to  hear  her  law, 
Would  throng  around  her  open  door; 
Exulting,  trembling,  raging,  fainting, 
Possest  beyond  the  Muse's  painting; 
While  "Modern  Athens,"  yet  untouched 
By  love  of  riches  overmuch, 
Was  noted  for  its  lofty  tone, 
And  manners  which  might  grace  a  throne ! 


6  STATE    STREET. 

There  were  but  few  who  dared  to  be 
Without,  O  Decency !  some  thought  of  thee. 

The  Passions  then,  to  Justice  given, 
Lived  in  the  trust  and  fear  of  Heaven ! 
And  gathered  round  their  holy  Court, 
Where  rights  were  neither  sold  nor  bought; 
While  yet  unused  to  greed  of  gain, 
And  deviltry  that 's  mean  and  vain ; 
When  women  loved  to  nurse  their  young, 
And  from  their  way  all  nonsense  flung; 
When  birth  had  something  then  to  do 
With  that  grave  question  —  "Who  are  you?" 
When  "  Come  by  chances "  stepped  aside 
Before  the  claims  of  family  pride  — 
That  healthy  love  of  blood  which  flows 


STATE    STREET. 

In  veins  the  base  and  mean  oppose; 
When  men  would  live  as  men  should  live 
Who  not  in  Self  alone  believe ; 
When  laws  were  honored  and  obeyed ; 
And  Justice  wooed  the  injured  maid, 
Who  now  is  left  too  oft  to  go 
Cursed  by  her  life,  its  bitter  woe ! 
When  gentlemen  were  held  to  be, 
O,  fallen  Manners !  prized  by  thee ; 
When  well-dressed  louts  were  made  to  see 
That  Shoddy's  not  gentility; 
That  dress  and  riches  could  not  gain 
For  such  respect  from  cultured  brain ! 
Which' laughs  within  its  sleeve  to  know 
How  vulgar  upstarts  come  to  woe  — 
The  woe  of  conscious  weakness,  where 


8  STATE    STREET. 

Only  strength  may  do  and  dare  — 

Strength  which  not  alone  delights 

In  all  its  own  agreeable  rights, 

But  Justice  loves  for  its  dear  sake, 

Would  of  its  feast  have  all  partake ;  — 

These  minds  —  they  are  where  blood  will  tell, 

Rejoicing  in  what 's  only  well ! 

While  lives  made  up  of  selfish  sham, 

Plebeian  cheek,  and  coat  of  Ham, 

With  purses  filled  with  filthy  wealth, 

To  nobler  thoughts  the  very  death ! 

Who  do  and  say  but  for  a  name, 

To  ventilate  e'en  more  their  shame; 

Thus  advertising  their  bad  breed, 

Their  nasty  and  plebeian  seed ; 

Whereas  the  noble,  well-born  mind 


STATE    STREET. 

In  others  as  in  self  will  find 

Something  to  value  and  to  save 

From  withering  in  a  living  grave!  — 

While  "cheeky  upstarts"  prance  about 

As  gentleman,  when  but  a  lout, 

Not  fit  to  carry  to  a  bear 

His  foul  intestines,  or  his  hair  — 

While  all  this  is,  perhaps,  to  last, 

To  curse  the  future  as  the  past, 

Well  may  we  sigh  for  other  days, 

When  Trade  and  Manners  challenged  praise; 

When  gathered  round  the  cause  of  Right, 

A  better  heart  for  sterner  fight : 

Those  days  of  slower  pace,  when  prayer 

Was  something  more  than  pious  air; 

When  pilgrim  shrewdness  was  no  crime, 


10  STATE    STREET. 

Its  name  revered  in  every  clime ! 
Ere  yet  contempt  was  well  expressed 
By  crying  "  Yankee !  "  in  distress. 
That  state  of  mind  which  one  is  in 
When  suffering  from  the  bite  of  sin, 
Man's  law  don't  punish  in  the  least  — 
Who  "skins"  the  most  'twill  mostly  feast! 
This  "Athens,"  which  has  grown  so  fast, 
Whose  wealth  and  populace  are  vast; 
This  city  by  the  sea,  where  man 
Will  "do"  his  brother  when  he  can, 
Clean  him  straight  out  while  he  will  drink 
With  him  the  holy  wine,  nor  wink, 
And  eat  the  holy  bread,  and  sigh 
For  those  who  droop  from  evil  nigh! 
This  "  Athens  "  of  the  western  world, 


STATE    STBEET.  11 

This  astute  critic  hard  to  hold  — 
What  changes  have  attended  thee 
Since  thou  wast  new  and  dear  to  me, 
Since,  in  ray  boyhood,  I  would  play 
About  thy  streets  and  inner  bay, 
Which  time  has  filled  with  foreign  dirt, 
Where  dandies  walk,  and  soft  maids  flirt. 
Thou  "Athens,"  once  fenced  in  by  worth 
Not  made  of  any  sort  of  earth, 
I  go  at  thee,  to  stick  my  pen 
Into  thy  pride,  thy  women,  men; 
E'en  to  thy  heart  I'll  drive  it  home, 
If  from  the  deed  a  good  may  come. 
Conceited,  vain,  and  over-wise, 
Thy  many  faults  thou  shouldst  despise. 
Behold   your  women  —  wives,  or  maids, 


12  STATE    STEEBT. 

"Up  to  the  devil"  in  their  ways. 

If  on  the  street,  or  wheresoe'er, 

Wanton  their  dress,  and  bold  their  air. 

What  they  are  doing,  or  would  do, 

"To  raise  the  wind,  and  get  things  new," 

Ah,  who  can  say  but  husbands  sad, 

And  lovers  who  have  gone  stark  mad : 

They  loved  and  were  deceived  ;  "  too  slow  " 

Were  they  —  their  money  did  not  flow; 

Their  lady-loves  had  charms  to  win 

"  Good-looking  fellows  who  had  tin  ; " 

So  "went  for  them,"  and  laughed  to  see 

Those  left  go  mad  in  misery. 

O  precious  darlings!   so  well  dressed, 

By  Beauty's  every  feature  blessed, 

What  harm  is  done  when  you  cast  off 


STATE    STREET.  13 

Some  honest  lover  with  a  scoff, 

With  whom  to  live  would  cost  you  thought 

Of  him,  on  income  somewhat  short ! 

What  harm  is  done  to  blast  a  thing 

Which  docs  to  you  so  little  bring? 

Then  live  the  life  of  well-dressed  sin 

With  some  "  dear  fellow  for  his  tin  : " 

Married,  or  mistress,  'tis  the  same ! 

You  can't  escape  the  curse  of  shame. 

The  hate  —  which  once  was  love  —  will  be 

A  hissing  serpent  e'er  to  thee  ! 

And  when  at  death  thou  mayst  recall 

The  heartlessness  which  caused  Love's  fall, 

That  crime  shall  curse  thee  with  a  howl, 

And  hand  to  thee  a  nauseous  bowl 

Of  seething  passions,  full  of  stench, 


14  STATE    STREET. 

Wherein  is  writ,  "For  thee,  vile  wench! 
Drink,  deeply  drink  of  that  thine  own, 
Until  the  poison  all  is  down; 
A  fitting  nectar  for  the  hell 
Where  only  such  as  thou  dost  dwell! 
Then  hence  —  away,  you  dirty  hag, 
A  tattered,  loathsome,  human  rag ! " 
Thus  will  the  passion  of  that  bowl 
Thy  fearful  doom  forever  howl. 

O,  blessed  is  God,  who  so  will  damn 
Things  heartless  with  their  coats  of  Ham ! 
Of  arms  speak  not  with  else  than  Hog, 
Fit  symbol  of  their  native  bog. 
Would  that  another  flood  might  rise 
To  sweep  away  those  thus  despised, 


STATE    STREET.  15 

That  generous  natures  might  enjoy 

The  right  to  live  without  annoy  — 

The  right  to  act  without  a  fear 

Of  ambushed  crime,  whence  flows  the  tear. 

Should  such  a  flood,  perchance,  obtain, 
Oh.  what  of  State  Street  would  remain ! 
God  in  his  mercy  spared  from  fire 
This  nest  of  sin,  of  self-desire ! 
Long-suffering,  patient  is  the  Lord, 
Unto  these  fellows,  to  accord, 
A  respite  from  their  doom  one  hour, 
Whose  acts  defy  and  scorn  His  power! 
Those  acts  by  which  the  weak  are  made 
To  lose  their  blood  by  shaves  in  trade; 
Tabooed  the  Banks,  they  must  obtain 


16  STATE    STEEET. 

At  two  and  three  per  cent,  of  gain 
Per  month;  paid  Shylocks,  who  supply 
The  needs  of  such  with  greedy  eye. 
The  Banks  are  run  by  those  who  play 
Each  unto  each  through  every  day. 
There  are  ^vho  get  what  they  de'sire, 
All  full  of  consequence  and  fire, 
Paying  but  moderate  for  a  loan, 
While  others  for  it  sweat  and  crroan. 

O 

What  these  may  make  by  honest  toil 
They  pay  away  as  State  Street  spoil! 
They  see  grow  fat  who  suck  their  blood, 
Too  often  called  "the  wise  and  eood." 

O 

But  State  Street  cannot  be  to  such 
A  place  where  love  is  fostered  much; 
They  go  there  always  "to  be  skun," 


STATE    STREET.  17 

Forever,  ever  "  to  be  done  ! " 
And  slain  too  oft  by  "silken  Jacks," 
Who  carry  murder  in  their  acts, 
Dealing  it  out  to  any  one 
Whose  needs  oblige  them  to  be  "done." 
From  early  life  I've  studied  here, 
Where  skinning 's  done  without  a  fear; 
The  innocent  I've  seen  cleaned  out, 
Scarce  e'er  they  turned  to  look  about! 
Not  cleaner  is  the  tooth  of  hound 
Than  were  these  fellows'  pockets  found, 
Who  marvelled  at  the  wits  so  keen, 
And  straightway  at  their  tricks  were  seen: 
Apt,  very  apt  were  they  to  learn, 
To  take  advantage  in  their  turn. 
2 


18  STATE    STREET. 

Thus  there  is  bred  a  set  of  thieves, 
Whose  arts  the  uninformed  deceives ; 
They  lie  in  wait  with  kindest  air  — 
One  never  thinks  them  mean,  unfair. 
"They'll  talk  up  stocks  not  Avorth  a  d — n," 
While  knowing  they  are  all  a  sham! 
And  get  good  money  for  the  same, 
Without  the  slightest  sense  of  shame. 
Who  can  be  gulled  will  grow  so  poor, 
They'll  State  Street  curse  for  evermore. 
Bankers  and  brokers  —  nearly  all 
Upon  this  street,  Avithin  its  call, 
Will  doom  whoever  gives  them  leave 
To  utter  ruin  !    and  believe 
The  Avine  they  drink,  the  bread  they  eat, 
As  Christ's  Communion,  is  more  sweet 


STATE    STREET.  19 

To  them,  whose  sordid  love  of  gain 

Completes  the  measure  of  their  fame. 

I  know  them  well  —  who  knows  them  not  ? 

To  Whom  has  fallen  the  painful  lot 

"To  raise  the  wind"  just  where  they  ai'e, 

To  come  within  their  loving  care. 

To  fall  into  a  hole  of  snakes, 
'Hong  briery  and  bewildering  brakes, 
Should  be  preferred  to  asking  aid 
Where  daily  's  done  so  foul  a  trade. 
Some  here  there  are,  who,  like  a  Holies, 
To  manly  ways  and  honor  holds ; 
Whom   kindly  feeling  often  guides, 
Whose  business  is  but  fair  emprise ; 
Who  deal,  though  sharply,  yet  most  true, 


20  STATE    STREET. 

Who'll  not  embrace,  then  murder  you ! 
Careful  they  hold  what  they  possess, 
Would  not  dig  pitfalls  to  distress; 
Yet,  if  one  wants  their  money,  they 
Will  make  him  roundly  for  it  pay ; 
But  will  not  lead  him  to  invest 
In  anything  not  deemed  the  best. 
They  may  be  trusted  when  they  state 
What  they  believe  should  gain  create ; 
But  beat  to  quarters  on  a  trade, 
They'll  try  and  cast  him  in  the  shade ! 
If  he 's  not  keen  to  hold  his  own, 
And  bear  with  equal  pressure  down. 
This  is  a  warfare  of  the  wit, 
For  which  they  practise  to  be  fit; 
Its  points  of  honor  well  are  ta'en, 


STATE    STREET.  21 

It  limits  much  the  grab  of  gain! 

State  Street  is  graced  by  such  who  play 

Fairly  to  win  a  business  sway; 

No  spot  of  earth  can  show  more  pride, 

Well  founded  in  a  record  tried 

Of  business  honor,  manly  heart, 

Than  some  who  here  enact  their  part 

Do  justly  feel  —  for  they  delight 

In  nothing  not  expressly  right. 

Yet,  sharks  abound,  and  reptiles,  too, 

They  ever  are  in  daily  view; 

All  uninformed  are  "taken  in," 

And  kindly  lightened  of  their  "  tin." 

So  goes  that  life  in  stocks  and  sham, 
Where  coats  of  arms  is  but  a  Ham ; 


22  STATE    STEEET. 

Hog  plainly  marks  the  action  here 

Straight  through  the  gleanings  of  the  year. 

If  one  at  times  a  feeling  kind 

Observes  within  a  shaver's  mind, 

It  glimmers  but  to  fade  away, 

When  he  can't  make  his  dealings  pay. 

I've  many  here  seen  break  their  necks ; 

Others  to  big  things  rise  from  specks ; 

While  working  hard,  as  best  they  knew, 

To  lift  themselves  high  into  view ;  — 

Bar-tenders  into  bankers  run; 

As  counter-jumpers  some  begun  ; 

And  God  knows  only  what  were  they 

Who  figure  foremost  there  to-day. 

Whence  come?  from  what?  and  how  they  sprung 

If  from  good  stock,  or  from  mere  dung? 


STATE    STREET.  23 

Though  questions  not  of  stern  finance, 
Yet  I  this  way  would  take  a  glance. 
I  like  to  know  about  the  seed 
From  which  we  vegetation  breed ; 
I  like  to  know  about  a  man, 
To  sift  him  finely  when  I  can. 
But  who  the  mongrels  on  this  street, 
As  "shaving  suckers"  we  oft  meet, 
May  be,  'tis  hard  indeed  to  tell; 
But  sure  it  is  from  grace  they  fell. 
Their  dealings  this,  beyond  a  doubt, 
So  sickening  fact  has  pointed  out. 
Without  a  conscience  —  all  within 
Is  blasting,  burning,  seething  sin  ! 
They  never  speak  but  to  mislead, 
They  never  act,  unless  to  bleed; 


24  STATE    STREET. 

To  drain  the  pockets  of  the  weak, 
Whose  wants  compel  them  such  to  seek. 

O  God !   how  canst  thou  spare  the  wretch 

Who'll  crush  whome'er  his  tricks  may  catch; 

How  canst  thou  let  him  live,  to  sway 

As  Lord  of  Finance  every  day ! 

On  State  Street  thou  must  look  with  ire, 

Where  mainly  reigns  a  self-desire ; 

Where  men  will  gather  hut  to  see 

How  they  too  oft  can  sorrow  Thee! 

Why  shouldst  thou  not  clean  up  the  place, 

Wipe  out  all  those  not  of  thy  grace  — 

That  cheating,  irreligious  chaff  — 

Those  guilty  things  who  at  Thee  laugh  ? 

Then  may  thy  Gospel  there  be  law, 


STATE    STREET.  25 

That  moderate  means  may  find  some  door 

To  enter  by,  where  it  will  be 

From  imposition   ever  free ! 

Nor  lose  the  life-blood  from  its  heart, 

Through  Christians  in  the  Devil's  part. 

Who  has  not  felt,  when  on  this  street, 

As  sharp  they  look  at  those  they  meet, 

That  'twould  not  do  to  ask  a  thing 

Of  many  there,  which  would  not  bring 

More  to  their  pockets  than  is  kind, 

Or  worthy  of  a  noble  mind  ! 

Who  has  not  felt  that  all  he  saw 

Was  but  a  satire  on  the  law  — 

A  running  fight,  where  sneaks  would  bleed, 

Their  betters  who  had  come  to  need ; 

Where  fellows  handling  cash  would  claim 


26  STATE    STEEET. 

To  lord  it  o'er  a  genius  famed? 

Ah,  State  Street!   why,  when  thou  couldst  do 

So  much  to  bless  forever  you  — 

Why  wilt  thou  cling  to  sordid  ways 

Which  Heaven  nor  Truth  can  ever  praise? 

How  happier  would  thy  trimmers  be, 

If  generous  hearts  they  gave  to  thee  1 

We  have  no  lease  of  life  —  this  day 

May  see  your  best  df*op  quick  away; 

What  service,  then,  is  all  their  gain? 

And  who  will  thank  them  for  the  same? 

Whate'er  they  leave  behind  may  go, 

Instead  of  bliss,  to  foster  woe ! 

While,  had  they  generous  been  in  life, 

Done  good  a  plenty,  willed  less  strife, 

They  would  have  seen  with  their  own  eyes 


STATE    STREET.  27 

Happy  hearts  their  bounty  prize ! 
But,  living  in  the  pride  of  greed, 
To  their  own  selfish  passions  feed, 
They  die  as  dieth  e'en  the  dog, 
By  avaricious  lust  befogged : 
Habit  is,  when  fixed,  a  force 
'Tis  hard  diverting  from  its  course. 

O  State  Street!   I  would  have  thee  rise, 
Thy  base  transactions  to  despise; 
I'd  man  to  man  have  just  and  true, 
And  Virtue  find  a  friend  in  you ! 
If  this  can  never  be,  may  God 
Well  smite  thee  with  his  potent  rod, 
And  all  thy  shavers  bring  to  grief, 
Make  obsolete  the  State  Street  thief. 


28  STATE    STREET. 

"When  Justice,  heavenly  Maid!  was  young, 
While  yet  in  early  Greece  she  sung, 
The  Passions  oft,  to  hear  her  law, 
Thronged  around  her  open  door; 
Exulting,  trembling,  raging,  fainting, 
Possest  beyond  the  Muse's  painting. 
O  Justice !   sphere-descended  maid, 
The  friend  of  Truth,  and  Wisdom's  aid, 
Why,  goddess!   why,  to  us  denied, 
Layst  thou  thy  ancient  worth  aside? 
Where  is  thy  native  simple  heart 
Devote  to  Virtue,  Fancy,  Art? 
Arise,  as  in  that  elder  time, 
Warm,  energetic,  chaste,  sublime! 
Thy  wonders  in  that  godlike  age 
Fill  thy  recording  history's  page. 


STATE    STREET.  29 

'Tis  said  —  and  I  believe  the  tale  — 
Thy  humblest  word  could  more  prevail, 
Had  more  of  strength,  diviner  rage, 
Than  all  which  charms  this  sordid  age ! 
O,  bid  oar  vain  endeavors  cease, 
Revive  the  early  days  of  Greece ! " 


FINIS. 


THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  0!  "ORNU 

LOS  ANGELES 


I  £>          Cla.i%k = 
1299     otate  street. 


PS 

1299 
C53s 


